It was a judgment day that pierced through the silence left behind by a devastating loss. In Lafia, Nasarawa State, Justice Simon Aboki of the High Court handed down the sentence many had prayed for: death by hanging for Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, the man found guilty of taking the life of 23-year-old Salome Adaidu—an NYSC member full of dreams, hope, and service to her country.
Salome wasn’t just a name in the headlines. She was someone’s daughter, a friend to many, and a brave young woman who stepped into unfamiliar places wearing the NYSC khaki—serving, learning, and hoping to build a life beyond the orientation camps and CDS groups.
That life was cruelly cut short.
The court found that Ajayi not only killed her but went as far as dismembering her body. He was charged with culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria—a law that recognizes the gravity of such a wicked act and prescribes death as punishment.
During the months that followed her murder, Nigerians—especially corps members and youth—watched with heavy hearts as the case unfolded. Social media carried her name like a torchlight in the dark, demanding justice. Today, the justice system answered.
As we process this verdict, the pain remains. A future was stolen. A smile was erased. But justice, though it doesn’t bring her back, speaks loud and clear: her life mattered.
Salome, you didn’t die in vain. This is for your memory, for your courage, and for every young woman who deserves to feel safe while serving Nigeria.
